The Shepherd School of Music | | Rice University

Strings Audition Information

Violin (MM)

Preliminary submission (video)

l  One movement of a Bach solo sonata or partita

l  One movement of a concerto 

These works should be performed from memory.

If you have not heard from us by January 4, 2019, please email us.

Live audition repertoire

l  Two contrasting movements of Bach

l  Complete first movement of a major concerto with cadenza, where applicable

l  Two works of the candidate's choice, one of which is a brilliant concert piece, displaying technical accomplishment and virtuosity

These works should be performed from memory. No accompanist is required for the audition.

Any questions regarding your application may be directed to Phyllis Smith.

Violin (DMA)

Required preliminary repertoire (video submission)

l  Two contrasting movements of Bach solo sonata or partita

l  One movement of a concerto

l  One virtuoso work

If you have not heard from us by January 4, 2019, please email us.

Live audition repertoire

l  Bach: any of the six solo sonatas and partitas (complete) from memory

l  A concerto (from memory) by one of the following: Bartok #2; Beethoven; Berg; Bernstein: Serenade; Brahms; Britten; Bruch: Scottish Fantasy; Dvorak; Elgar; Glazunov; Korngold; Lalo; Mendelssohn; Nielsen; Paganini #1; Prokofiev #1 or #2; Shostakovich #1; Sibelius; Stravinsky; Tchaikovsky; Walton

l  One complete Mozart or Haydn concerto (from memory)

l  A work for violin unaccompanied or with piano composed after 1950. (If longer than 10 minutes, a representative 10-minute portion is sufficient) Memorization is not required for this work.

l  A virtuoso work by one of the following (from memory): 1. Bazzini 2. Ernst 3. Paganini 4. Sarasate 5. Vieuxtemps 6. Wieniawski 7. Ysaÿe

▶With the exception of category 1, the complete program must be performed with piano, where applicable.

▶The Shepherd School will provide a pianist and limited rehearsal time if requested.

▶If the Shepherd School is to provide the pianist, all piano parts must be made available three weeks before the scheduled

   audition time.

▶The applicant must be prepared to perform all chosen works in their entirety. However, the jury may decide to hear only

   certain  portions.

Any questions regarding your application may be directed to Phyllis Smith.

Viola (MM)

Preliminary submission (video)

l  Two contrasting movements from a Bach solo cello suite or violin solo sonata or partita

l  One movement from a major concerto

l  One movement from a sonata

If you have not heard from us by January 4, 2019, please email us.

Live audition repertoire

l  A major concerto (two movements minimum)

l  Three movements from a Bach solo cello suite or violin solo sonata or partita

l  One composition of a different style

It is recommended that the Bach and concerto be memorized.

Any questions regarding your application may be directed to Phyllis Smith.

Viola (DMA)

Required preliminary repertoire (video submission)

l  Two contrasting movements from a Bach solo cello suite or violin sonata or partita

l  One movement from a major concerto

l  One movement from a sonata.

If you have not heard from us by January 4, 2019, please email us.

Live audition repertoire

The applicant should present a program of 60-70 minutes in duration, including one work from each of the four categories below. One piece must be written after 1970.

l  Bach (from memory) any of the six cello suites or any of the violin solo sonatas or partitas.

l  A complete concerto (from memory) by Bartok; Hindemith: Der Schwanendrehrer; Walton; Piston; Schnittke; Harbison; Penderecki or work of similar importance

l  A substantial work such as Brahms, Clarke, Hindemith, Rochberg, Shostakovich, Schumann, Vieuxtemps, or Bax.

l  An unaccompanied work such as Hindemith, Op. 25 #1, Op. 11 #5, Reger, or a showpiece such as the ones included in the Primrose collection.

▶For works that require piano accompaniment, the Shepherd School will provide a pianist and limited rehearsal time if requested.

▶If the Shepherd School is to provide the pianist, all piano parts must be made available three weeks before the scheduled

   audition date.

▶The applicant must be prepared to perform all chosen works in their entirety. However, the jury may decide to hear only certain portions.

Any questions regarding your application may be directed to Phyllis Smith.

Cello (MM)

Required preliminary repertoire (video submission)

l  Étude by Popper or Grützmacher or Caprice by Piatti, Franchomme, or Paganini

l  One movement (or about five minutes) of a major concerto

l  Prelude from an unaccompanied Bach Cello Suite

If you have not heard from us by January 4, 2019, please email us.

Live audition repertoire

l  Étude by Popper or Grützmacher or Caprice by Piatti, Franchomme, or Paganini

l  An important movement of a major concerto demonstrating your virtuosity and artistry

l  The prelude and one other movement from an unaccompanied Bach Cello Suite

l  A work in a contemporary idiom written within the last seventy-five years (i.e. Carter, Henze, Schuller, Ligeti, Dutilleux, Berio)

The concerto and Bach suite should be played from memory, if possible.

Any questions regarding your application can be directed to Phyllis Smith.

Cello (DMA)

Required preliminary repertoire (video submission)

l  Two concerti; one (1) Haydn and one (1) major Romantic or 20th century, first movement only

l  Two contrasting movements of Bach

l  A contemporary unaccompanied work

If you have not heard from us by January 4, 2019, please email us.

Live audition repertoire

The repertoire for the audition must include one work from each of the following groups:

l  Bach - Any of the six Solo Suites (complete) from memory

l  A concerto (from memory) by Barber; Bloch Schelomo; Dvorak; Elgar; Hindemith; Prokofiev Op. 125; Schumann; Shostakovich No. 1 or 2; Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations; or Walton.

l  A concerto (from memory) by Haydn D Major or C Major

l  A sonata by Beethoven or Brahms

l  A work in a contemporary idiom written within the last seventy-five years. (If longer than 10 minutes, a representative 10-minute portion is sufficient.)

l  One of the following from Group A or B, of not less than 5 minutes in duration, from memory

ü  A: A sonata by Locatelli, Francoeur, Boccherini or Valentini.

ü  B: A virtuoso work by Sevais or David Popper, or 2 Piatti Caprices.

▶The complete program must be performed with piano with the exception of the unaccompanied works in your program.

▶The Shepherd School will provide a pianist and limited rehearsal time if requested.

▶If the Shepherd School is to provide the pianist, all piano parts must be made available three weeks before the scheduled

   audition date.

▶The applicant must be prepared to perform all chosen works in their entirety. However, the jury may decide to hear only

   certain portions.

Any questions regarding your application can be directed to Phyllis Smith.